Urban and Regional Planners

Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other jurisdictions.

Duties

Urban and regional planners typically do the following:

• Meet with stakeholders such as government officials, developers, and the public regarding development plans and land use
• Gather and analyze data from field investigations and sources such as market research, censuses, and environmental studies
• Assess the feasibility of site plans submitted by developers and identify needed changes
• Recommend whether site plans should be approved or denied
• Stay current on government policies such as zoning laws, building codes, and environmental regulations

Urban and regional planners identify community needs and develop short- and long-term projects for certain areas. They help communities manage economic, social, environmental, and other issues. Examples include creating access to parks and sidewalks, expanding affordable housing, and making the region more attractive to businesses.

When working on a project, planners often collaborate with public officials, community members, and other groups to identify community issues and goals. They also analyze research and data to address issues and to meet goals. After they present a final project proposal to clients, planners may help to oversee its implementation.

Urban and regional planners use a variety of technology, such as statistical, data visualization, and financial management software. In addition, planners often use Geographic Information System (GIS) software to integrate data, such as for population density, with digital maps.

Urban and regional planners may specialize in transportation planning, community development, historic preservation, or other areas of focus.

Urban and regional planners held about 44,700 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of urban and regional planners were as follows:

Urban and regional planners may need to travel to inspect potential sites and proposed changes to existing sites.

Work Schedules

Most urban and regional planners work full time. Some work evenings or weekends to attend meetings with officials, planning commissions, and neighborhood groups.

Urban and regional planners typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited planning program to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer or require planners to be certified.

The median annual wage for urban and regional planners was $83,720 in May 2024.

Employment of urban and regional planners is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,400 openings for urban and regional planners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.